Latest House budget recommendations includes $6M more for Trial Court

The House approved a budget late last night that includes $6 million more for the Trial Court than recommendations that emerged out of that chamber’s Ways and Means Committee earlier this spring.

The latest figure — $560 million — is still $8 million below Gov. Deval Patrick’s initial budgetary recommendations and well below the court’s estimated “maintenance” budget for next year of about $580 million.

Martin W. Healy, the chief counsel for the Massachusetts Bar Association, said Tuesday the House’s latest budget proposal “reflects that it’s still a very tight budget climate,” before adding, “a $6 million additional appropriation is significant.”

The Senate Ways and Means Committee will come out with its recommendations next month, which the Senate will consider and vote on before a joint conference committee works to reconcile the House and Senate proposals. The budget that emerges from the joint conference committee is voted up or down by legislators before being sent to the governor’s desk.

“It’s always difficult to predict. We’re hopeful we can obtain additional funds, but it’s impossible to make a prediction,” said Healy. “I don’t think $560 million is necessarily the high water mark.”